Petrochemical giant INEOS has lost its legal challenge to the Scottish Government's "ban" on fracking at the Court of Session, Scotland's highest civil court.

Grangemouth plant owner INEOS and Aberdeen firm ReachCSG took Scottish ministers to court over their decision to convert a moratorium on the controversial gas extraction technique into an indefinite, effective ban

They had asked the court to declare that Scottish ministers acted unlawfully in doing so, arguing they exceeded their powers and lacked the legal competence to impose such a ban.

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However, Lord Pentland ruled that the position of INEOS, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, was based on a "series of fundamental misunderstandings of the Scottish Government's position" and refused the challenge.

Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "This decision vindicates the extensive process of research and consultation which the Scottish government has undertaken since 2015.

"Our preferred position is not to support unconventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland (fracking) and that position remains unchanged."